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New Straits Times

#SHOWBIZ: College thriller gets remake with darker story

BACK in 2018, screenwriter Nadia Khan served Malaysian viewers with 'Gantung', a college thriller that served as both a "whodunit" and buddy movie with a tragic and disturbing storyline. Viewed by millions on the small screen, this hit series saw popular Indonesian actor Randy Pangalila play an angry young man named Gibbs, who with his buddies Ray, KJ and Troll, were suspected of driving a depressed female college mate to suicide by hanging. 'Gantung' is back by popular demand, now as a 2-hour feature film with a new cast. Retitled as 'Gantung: Musketeer Code', it stays true to the series and is once again set in an elite school somewhere in Kuala Lumpur. Now directed by Nadia herself instead of Shamyl Othman, the film is also produced by Neddo Works, her company. At the recent preview of 'Gantung' in GSC Mid Valley Megamall, Nadia said that she chose to make the novel and television series into a movie as a result of strong feedback from netizens over the years. "It wasn't easy to get this off the ground but thank God I did. This was achieved through a crowdfundiong effort, and we successfully raised RM200,000 to make the movie back in 2020." DELAYED Sadly, the movie was delayed for three years because of the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent Movement Control Order (MCO). "Filming was done in December 2023 and took a month," said Nadia. She added that while many viewers might not have caught the series on television, moviegoers need not watch it before catching the new movie. "Both stories stand on their own, just that some of the actors are different and the way the story is told is different, too," said Nadia. YOUNG CAST The movie, which opened in cinemas on June 5, boasts a star-studded young cast from Malaysia and Indonesia, with lots of established Malaysian stars in cameo or supporting roles. It stars Ikmal Amry, Ben Amir, Hafreez Adam, Brandon Salim, Shazia Rozaini, Gita Sucia, Taufiq Hanafi, Nelissa Nizam, Bront Palarae, Datin Sofia Jane, Chew Kin Wah, Sangeeta Krishnasamy, Sharifah Sofia, Amanda Ang, Anas Ridzuan, Nadiya Nisaa and Siti Saleha Baharom. Nadia said that there will be sequels to 'Gantung' as it is the first of her three novels in the Gantung series which she penned more than a decade ago. "And the ending of the movie clearly shows that the story of Ray, Gibbs, KJ and Troll will be continued," she said, describing it as a youth-oriented story, part murder mystery, part horror, and part teen soap opera. SOLOZ Ikmal, who has won praise for his role as the villain in Syafiq Yusof's 'Soloz' early this year, said that while he is the hero this time, he is still an angry young man with family issues. "I'm Ray, the de facto storyteller here, and while he's once again angsty, I like such characters as they are realistic." Ben said that he was the "odd man out" amongst the four main characters, as Randy had chosen not to reprise his role as "alpha male" Gibbs. "I was asked not to follow Randy's version of Gibbs and instead portray the 'taiko' of the gang my own way," he said, adding that his version of Gibbs was less aggressive and more subtle than Randy's. JOCK Hafreez said that he was happy to reprise his role as Troll, because the "jock" among the boys was both funny and tragic. "He's very much a poor, little rich boy. He masks his pain behind a somewhat arrogant image," he said. Nadia said that the story was basically about Ray's friendship with his childhood and college buddies and how he is protective of them, even if they break the law and cause harm to others in the same college. "They always have his back, and vice-versa, and they live by this principle which they nickname as The Musketeer Code," she said. FEMINIST Shazia, who plays the main female character Farah, said that she was the "school feminist" who campaigns against sexism. "However, Farah also lives a contradictory life, as she is in a relationship with a seemingly sexist boyfriend Gibbs," she said. BROTHER Nadia said that the key cameos in the movie are Sofia, Chew and Sangeetha as teachers in the college, Bront as the brother of the dead girl who demands justice, Siti Saleha as the manager of the school cafe and Amanda as a concerned parent. Nadia said that the story might be a little confusing thanks to the flashbacks, but that was beauty of a thought-provoking script and novel. "It is not meant to be a straightforward tale, but one where each character has his or her own story to tell and his or her owh demons to face," she said. "At the heart of it all, is the timeless message of being honest with oneself and being a true friend despite life's challenges and tragedies."